Pages

June 20, 2013

G75: Tigers 4, Red Sox 3

Andrew Bailey's problems continue. The Red Sox closer imploded once again, walking Victor Martinez and serving up a game-winning, two-run homer to Jhonny Peralta. It was Bailey's fourth blown save of the season, equaling his career high for a season, set in his rookie year of 2009.

Boston had a 2-0 lead in the fifth. David Ortiz homered on the first pitch of the fourth. In the fifth, Jose Iglesias tripled to right field and scored on Jacoby Ellsbury's single to center.

The Tigers tied it up against Lackey (7-7-2-1-5, 98) in the bottom of the fifth. After a one-out walk to Andy Dirks, Lackey recorded the second out, but then gave up three consecutive singles, including a bloop to shallow right by Torii Hunter that scored two runs.

Boston re-took the lead when Shane Victorino and Dustin Pedroia each drew four-pitch walks off Phil Coke, and Ortiz lined a single through the shift to score Victorino.

Koji Uehara had an easy eighth, retiring Hunter on a ground ball to short, striking out Miguel Cabrera and retiring Prince Fielder on a long drive to deep right-center that Ellsbury ran down at the base of the wall. It was arguably a tougher inning, more deserving of a save, perhaps, had the Red Sox won, than what Bailey was due to face in the ninth.

It was noteworthy that as Bailey was pitching to his first batter, Andrew Miller was warming up in the pen behind him. John Farrell apparently had a short leash for Bailey tonight, but the game was lost quickly, as Peralta lined a 1-2 cutter over the left field fence.

Lackey has a 2.39 ERA over his last six starts. Earned runs allowed in those outings: 0, 0, 3, 1, 4, 2. ... He has allowed more than three earned runs in only two of his 11 starts this season (both times facing the Rays).

Alvarez is making his second major league start. In his debut, on June 9, he took a no-hitter against Cleveland into the fifth inning. His pitching line: 6-3-1-1-7, 93.

8 comments:

This one hurt. I didn't like Napoli loafing to first on what should have been an infield hit (is he injured or lazy?), Pedroia's check swing strike out preventing Papi from getting up in the 9th, so many LOB, and F'ing Bailey again throwing BP to blow a save. I'm sharpening my pitchfork!

Also, I would love to have seen Lackey's reaction to Peralta's HR. He's not known for hiding his feelings when his teammates make mistakes. It looked like he thought Victorino should have caught that ball that went off the wall earlier in the game.